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Understanding the contributions of stress reactivity to racial disparities in adverse placental and pregnancy outcomes

Award Number: R01HL168409
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/19/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/29/2028

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Understanding the contributions of stress reactivity to racial disparities in adverse placental and pregnancy outcomes - ABSTRACT A growing number of studies has implicated maternal stress as an explanation for the higher burden of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) seen among non-Hispanic Black women compared with their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Most studies that have explored the relationship between stress and APOs have focused solely on prenatal exposure to stressors, but Black women are generally exposed to more stressors over the life course than White women. Moreover, Black women may have more limited resources to cope with social stressors, as well as be more likely to experience enduring stressors like racial and/or gender discrimination, which may lead to dysregulated physiological and psychological responses to everyday stressors (i.e., stress reactivity). Several studies have shown dysregulated cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and affective reactivity to stressors is associated with increased CVD risk and other adverse health outcomes in non-pregnant populations, but the impact of dysregulated stress reactivity on pregnancy outcomes remains poorly understood. Thus, the overall goal of this study is to examine the impact of physiological and psychological stress reactivity on adverse placental and pregnancy outcomes. We will use ecological momentary assessments and intensive measurements of heart rate variability, blood pressure, salivary cortisol, and positive and negative affect to generate personalized measures of how pregnant women respond to stressful experiences in their daily lives. We will then examine associations of these measures with adverse placental lesions and pregnancy outcomes. Finally, we will quantify the extent to which stress reactivity and exposure to stressors during pregnancy account for racial disparities in these adverse outcomes.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $706,576 )
2025	2025	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	000	3	3/6/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$635,918
2025	2025	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	001	3	7/17/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$70,658
														Subtotal = $706,576

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $698,088 )
2024	2024	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	000	2	2/16/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$641,102
2024	2024	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	001	2	6/24/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$56,986
														Subtotal = $698,088

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $732,043 )
2023	2023	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	000	1	4/19/2023	NEW	$732,043
2023	2023	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	001	1	8/12/2023	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $732,043

Grand Total All Awards = $2,136,707

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Understanding the contributions of stress reactivity to racial disparities in adverse placental and pregnancy outcomes

Award Number: R01HL168409

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/19/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/29/2028

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